Being hopeful that Ian would return the documents to me the next morning only led to disappointment. He did not. When I arrived at Roland's study shortly after lunch, I found Baileywick and Roland furiously whispering with each other. Roland was a bit pale, and worried, while Baileywick glared at me.

"I apologize," I said, beginning to leave, thinking they were having a discussion which did not involve my presence.

"No, Sofia, come here."

Suddenly I wondered if the looks and the whispers had anything to do with the letters I had purloined. "Is everything ok?" Roland waved me toward the desk and Baileywick stood straighter.

"Sofia, when we left here yesterday, did anyone come in?"

My mind raced as my mouth went dry. "Yes." Oh, I'm an idiot. I'm not good at lying.

"And?" Roland prompted.

I swallowed nervously. "Well, at least I thought so. I mean, I…I was scared. I knew you weren't here, and I didn't know who it could be and I was alone, so I went to the next room, and then I realized I couldn't protect myself and I didn't know if anyone could hear me." My words just tumbled out fast. "So, I went through your bedroom and I found this," I opened the book and pulled out the dagger, "and I decided that I would confront whomever entered the study, but then when I came back, no one was there." Sighing, I continued. "Then I felt like an idiot because I was probably just hearing things but I did not put this back right away. And it wasn't long before you and Sir Gral came back." Roland stood and moved toward me around the desk which made me back up a step or two. "I'm sorry, Roland. You said I was in danger and you weren't here and I was frightened."

Roland smiled as he came closer. "Give me the dagger, Sofia." I handed it to him and he lay it on the desk behind him. "I told you that you are safe inside the castle."

"But," he cradled my face in his hands, "I… I'm so sorry, Roland. I guess my imagination got away from me."

"So you never saw who was in this office?" Baileywick said from behind Roland.

I looked deep into Roland's eyes. "No. I thought after, that I had been imagining the door knob turning." I looked at Roland's lips. I did not like the worrisome look on his face and it occurred to me that perhaps if I kissed him, his worry would leave. "Do you think someone came in?"

"I am missing some documents." My eyes flew to his again. "Someone broke into my desk and took them. Are you sure you did not see who it was, my dear?"

"No. I'm sorry, I'm so foolish. I should have told you right away, but I thought I was being silly."

"If she did not see anyone," Baileywick moved away from the desk, "perhaps she took them."

My mouth dropped open and the need to defend myself and instill doubt elsewhere. "Did you go to see Sir Gral's horse?" I retorted.

Baileywick sneered at me. "He did not," Roland said.

"Then what if it was Baileywick who came back here and took…whatever it was? The documents?" Now Baileywick was angry. "It doesn't feel good to be accused of something, does it?" I was hoping the red shame clinging to my face would be confused for anger at Roland's man.

"Enough," Roland wiped his face. "I know it was neither of you. But that means that either someone got past the guards and into the castle, or someone is a spy." He started to move back to the desk but I grabbed his arm.

"But that means we aren't safe here."

"It was theft, Sofia, not assault. Would keeping the dagger make you feel better? Would you know how to use it without hurting yourself?"

I considered this, then shook my head. Roland slid his arm around my shoulders and I leaned into him, with Baileywick working hard to remove the scowl from his face. "Were the documents important? Are they related to money?"

Roland shook his head and moved us to sit together on the settee. "They contain names of others who are aligned as I am. King Stephen would pay greatly for this information, and if it found its way into his hands, many people will be in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"At the very least, loss of land and title. More likely we would be tried for treason."

I gasped. Suddenly, I realized that Roland was truly my benefactor, whether I liked him or not. The king was not pleased with me and if something happened to Roland, who knew what would happen to me? And Michael, what would happen to him? He's just a baby.

Roland drew me closer to him with his arm around my shoulder. "See, now I've frightened you more. I'm sorry, Sofia."

"What would happen to Michael?" I breathed.

Roland shrugged. "Don't think about that." His lips landed on my forehead, then lingered. "You go to your room. I have a lot of work to do today."

"Can I help?"

"How good are you at interrogations?"

Shaking my head, I felt tears well up in my eyes. "You are worried, Roland." I swear I heard Baileywick's eyes roll.

"Go to your room, Sofia. I will see you for supper." Then, our lips met, gently, and I realized that maybe I did have some affection for Roland, even if I had just made one the biggest mistakes of my life. He stood, pulled me up with him, and walked to the door. "Oh, I forgot," Roland paused. "Lady Johnna sent a note. "She could be here any day. It depends on the weather. The messenger said he came through some hard rain."

"Is it safe for her to come?"

"She will be fine," Roland smiled.

"Thank you. I'll be so happy to see her." He opened the door for me and I left, heading straight for my room.


By supper, Roland looked wan and was angry toward everyone. The meal was somber, with each of us excusing ourselves as quickly as possible. Ian and I avoided each other at the table, and even Amber had little to say.

Before I returned to my room, I paused, wondering if I should confess everything to Cedric, and get his advice, but I felt Ian still held the upper hand. Cedric will be angry with me, I reasoned, so I entered my room and prepared for bed.

It was late in the night again when Ian entered my room. This time I heard the door handle turn, and I hazily thought that I needed to start locking my door.

"You haven't gone to see your beloved sorcerer, lately," was the first thing he said.

"Why should I? My throat no longer hurts."

Ian sat on the end of my bed, laughing quietly. He put his hand inside his jacket and pulled out the stack of documents, then dropped them on the bed between us.

"What are you going to do with the information you took from these?"

"That is nothing for you to worry about."

"You put us all in danger."

"No, my dear, you put yourself, and your brother, and your lovers in danger."

"You lied to me!" I grabbed the documents and climbed from the bed.

"Let me think." He paused as I stoked my fire that had nearly gone out. "No, I did not lie to you." I knelt at the hearth and began to burn the documents.

"What are you doing?" he hissed.

"Getting rid of these."

"You need to put them back."

"I can't!"

"Roland will find them missing." He moved to take what he could from my hand and I threw them all into the fire at once.

"Roland already knows they are missing."

"How did you screw this up?" he tried to reach in to the flames to save what he could but I picked up the poker and poked his arm.

My door opened and we both turned to see Roland enter, in his pajamas and robe.

"Ian? Sofia? What is this?" His eyes narrowed.

Ian stood. "I heard Sofia screaming and came to see the problem. She was having a nightmare."

Slowly, I stood as well. "I was very cold, so I moved to sit closer to the hearth, and Ian was stoking the fire for me." I glanced down at the flames which were still licking the edge of Roland's documents. Moving so Roland could not see into the fire, I asked, "Why are you here?"

"I came to check on you."

"So, you heard her yelling as well," Ian smiled.

"No," Roland said.

I gave Roland a smile. "It must have been that part of you that knew I was frightened and cold, and you came to be with me." This seemed to stroke Roland's ego, and he smiled finally.

Clearing his throat, he bade Ian a good night, motioning to the door, thanking Ian but adding that it was improper for him to be in my room any longer than necessary. Then, once Ian was gone, and Roland and I were alone, I ran to him, throwing my arms around him. "I am cold. Will you hold me?"

Steering me to the bed, he pulled the covers back and we both climbed in. "I will hold you the rest of the night," he sighed into my hair. "I'm sorry for the worry I've caused you, Sofia. I love you."

I tensed. This was the first time he had said he loved me. Shock overcame me, but also a sense of longing for Cedric. And yet here I am in my bed with someone who is not Cedric. Roland snored softly and I stretched to look at the fire, hoping each page had burned completely, before I succumbed to a restless sleep.